Show-case.



No. 638,454. I Patented Dec. 5, I899.

F. x. GANTEB.

SHOW CASE.

(Apphcatxon filed. May 3, 1899.) (N o M o d el nrrnn drains farnr nnient FRANCIS X. GANTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

S HOW-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,454, dated December 5, 1899. Application filed May 3, 1899. Serial No. 715,422. (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS X. GANTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved means for securing together the plates of glass showcases.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of metal fasteners to be attached by screw-bolts and in which the heads of all the screws shall be either concealed or entered to their position from the interior of the case.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken vertical cross-section ofa glass showcase in which one form of my metal fastener is shown applied to the top, end, and front plates. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of one corner of a show-case. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the metal fastener, one screw being seen detached. Fig. 415a vertical section of a portion of the top and front plates, showing another very desirable form of metal fastener. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the saddle form of angle-plate fastener shown in Fig. 4.

In this show-case neither a wooden nor metallic frame for retaining the glass plates is employed. The construction and material of the bottom A and back B are unimportant. The front plate 0, end plates d, and top plate 9 are all polished glass. The desideratum is a strong metal fastening to unite two plates and provision for screws which shall be entered to their position from the interior of the case or from such parts as will result in the concealment of the screw-heads.

I employ a metal corner=-plate (see Figs. 1 and 3) to fit, saddle-fashion over the upper edges of both the front and end glass plates.

This saddle-plate has two top inclined surfaces f g, whichform a right angle and fit on the upper beveled edges of the front glass plate a and end plate d. The top plate 6 is channeled on its under surface to receive these upper beveled edges and also to receive the saddle-plate f g. In the miter-line of the right-angled saddle-plate is a bolt-hole 71, up through which a screw or bolt j is inserted, the head of the said screw being concealed on the under sideof the metal saddle-plate. A tubular socket 1', having one end closed by a flanged head 1 and internally screw-threaded, is entered in a hole formed in the top plate, so that the flanged head will have position on the outside and close against the outer surface. The up-projecting screw j has its point end in the socket and is tightened and holds the metal corner-plate to the top glass plate.

I make provision for holding down the rightangled saddle-plate or corner-plate. In Figs. 1 and 3 this consists of a rod k, attached to the said corner-plate and extending down to the bottom A, where it has a screw-bolt Z. A nut m on the bolt secures it firmly. This rod may be an angle-rod, as shown, or may have any other shape in cross-section. A rod of the kind shown will fit up and down closely in the corner of the two glass plates and will serve to aid in making a tight joint in said corner.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the rod is dispensed with and instead the corner-plate has a right-an gled down-flange n, which takes position on the inner surface of the front and end glass plates. Holes 0 o are in each side of the down-flange. Each glass plate 0 and cl has a hole, and a tubular socket t? is in the said hole of the front plate and a similar socket in the hole of the end plate. A screw j is entered from the inside of the case through the hole 0 in the down-flange and into the socket i and another screw j is entered through the hole 0' into the other socket. The screws being tightened will firmly hold the corner-plate down.

I have shown and thus far described myinvention as being applicable to the glass plates of show-cases; but I design to employ the improvement and it is obvious it is applicable to glass plates for show-windows, glass aquariums, burial'cases,and glass monuments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a glass case the combination of a front plate, a; an end plate, d; a top plate, e; a metal corncr-plate having an upper part that fits saddle-fashion over the upper edges of the front and end glass plates; a tubular socket closed at one end by a head and resting in a hole in the top plate-the head being on the outside of the plate; a screw, j, entered from the lower side of the said metal corner-plate and projected upward and into the said tubular socket; and means for holding down the said metal corner-plate, as set forth.

2. In a glass case the combination of a front plate, a; an end plate, d; a top plate, 6; a metal corner-plate having an upper part that fits saddle-fashion over the upper edges of the front and end glass plates; a tubular socket closed at one end by a head and resting in a hole in the top plate-the head being on the outside of the plate; a screw,j, en- I5 to the bottom of the case Where its lower end 20 is made fast, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

Witnesses:

THos. O. BAILEY, CHARLES B. MANN, Jr. 

